Schwarzenegger: Tinkertoy Terminator
Jonah Goldberg of the National Review has, Tinkertoy Terminator No more power to the people! in which he blames Californians for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s woes.
It’s not nice to kick a guy when he’s down, but I’m thinking he can handle it. Arnold Schwarzenegger is falling apart like a Terminator made from Tinkertoys. About a year ago, flibbertigibbets and voluptuaries in Washington and California were convinced that Arnold could somehow intimidate the entire political process into revoking that pesky amendment that bars the foreign born from running for president (though I suppose it doesn’t bar them from running, just serving). Now Schwarzenegger is doing worse in the polls than that vaguely remembered political skid mark of the Schwarzenegger juggernaut, Gray Davis, was when he was ousted from office in a recall.
These Washington columnists do not have an appropriate read on California politics or the Governor. Schwarzenegger has skillfully been raising and saving resources for the November special election and grooming a donor base for his re-election in 2006.
The governator has been successful in attriting the special interests that will coalesce in an attempt to deny him re-election. He has made them raise an inordinate amount of money (by surcharging the paychecks of union employees, teachers and prison guards) and waste resources on an off-year election. Granted he needs a better media campaign, but as a Hollywood Star, when the times comes…..He’ll BE BACK.
True, he has slipped in the polls. And true, he should have launched his own media campaign to combat the well conceived television ad campaign of the unions. But……. the Governator has been keeping his powder dry, is right on the issues and is ready for a November fight.
I’m sympathetic to the substance of Schwarzenegger’s agenda. But the last thing California needs is more populism. What it needs are strong, competitive political parties, run by people who are held accountable for their actions, not overruled by special elections and referenda every time things go south.
Ultimately, the real culprits are Californians themselves. They don’t want responsible leaders so they don’t get them. Golden Staters would do well to remember their Shakespeare. The fault lies not in the movie star, dear Californians, but in yourselves.
Stay Tuned.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League
Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page